Not many people know the Times Colonist book drive and sale like volunteer co-ordinator Bob Taylor.
The retired civil servant began volunteering at the first book sale and now dedicates about one month each year working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the project.
“It’s addictive,” he said Saturday from the Victoria Curling Club, where he was overseeing the first day of the drop-offs for the charity sale. “My wife and I were looking for something to do in the paper and that’s how it started 16 years ago.”
The book drop-off continues today 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the curling club, 1952 Quadra St.
While the book sale — scheduled this year for May 4 and 5 — gets a lot of attention, drop-off days are a big job, too. By 2 p.m. Saturday, Taylor and his team of about 100 volunteers had already received about 60 pallets of books, each one holding an estimate 1,400 pounds of books.
Taylor expects to receive between 400,000 to 500,000 donated books this weekend. It’s a far cry from the first sale in 1988.
“There were piles of books on the floor. There weren’t very many, but it’s grown ever since,” he said.
Gladys Barman can vouch for that. She’s volunteered for 15 years and seen the volume of books grow — forcing the event to find bigger and bigger venues.
“I enjoy being with the people who have been here for many years also,” she said. “We have quite a camaraderie, and when we see each other, we hug and say ‘How’ve you been?’ ”
Books were also accepted Saturday only at a drop-off in Langford this year. About 20 volunteers worked for four hours to receive hundreds of books at Westhills.
The day’s biggest haul came in the form of five pickup trucks full of books from Our Lady of the Rosary in Langford, according to organizers. The church hosted its own book sale April 13 and donated the leftovers to the Times Colonist sale.
Last year’s Times Colonist book sale raised $153,706 for the Times Colonist’s Raise-A-Reader program for Vancouver Island schools and non-profit groups.
Taylor attributes the widespread support for the sale to Victoria’s literate and giving nature.
“It’s worthwhile, and most of the people here feel very passionate about volunteering and raising money for literacy.”
